Tire chain linkage



March 23, 1948. H, M N 2,438,248

TIRE CHAIN LINKAGE Filed Jan. 10, 1946 Zmnentor 46 HARRY MADISON (Ittorneg Patented Mar. 23,, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,438,248 TIRE CHAIN LINKAGE Harry Madison, Fullerton, Calif.

Application January 10, 1946, Serial No. 640,258 "1 Claims. (01. 152-241) The present invention relates to anti-skid chains, traction devices and the like, particularly useful in conjunction with wheeled vehicles, such as automobiles and trucks.

An object of the invention isto provide a'd evice, the several parts of which are so constructed and cooperatively joined together that they may be readily taken apart by an unskilled person, and without the use of tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tire chain device for the above purpose which is so constructed that worn cross links thereof may be readily manually detached from the side chains employed and new cross chains substituted therefor, and without an employment .of

extraneous means.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following detailed description thereof. I

As heretofore practiced in the art at times when a cross chainoi an automobile traction device becomes unduly worn resultant from use, it has been necessary to place the ends of the cross chain in a vise and employ a chisel and hammer for detaching the cross chain from the side chains and similarly it has been necessary to pound the hooks at the ends of a cross chain ily manipulatable by an'unskilledperson.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device for the above-stated purposes which is so constructed that new cross chains may be readily substituted for worn cross chains at times when the latter becomebroken and while the vehicle is remotely disposed with respect to garages, machine shops and the like,

" the services of which are usually required, as

heretofore, during a repair of a traction device.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a segment of a tire chain and depicting an embodiment of the present invention, certain portions thereof being broken away and others showing in section.

Figure 2 is a side view of a portion of said segment.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 and showing the relative position of certain parts there of during a removal of a cross chain therefrom.

Figure 4 depicts a portion of a two-piece link employed.

Referring now to the drawing for a more'particular description, l0 indicates generally an automobile traction device having oppositely disposed chains l2 and M. The ends of the chains l2 and I4 are adapted to be connected together by conventional clasps, not shown, for securing the chains adjacent the opposite sides of the wheel of a vehicle in a Well known manner, said clasps being such as orsimilar to the clasp indicated at E in Figure 2 of Patent No; 1,135,856. The new device includes a plurality of spacedapart cross chains 16, and since each cross chain It is alike with respect to the other cross chains thereof, but one cross chain and its adjunct parts is minutely described herein.

The cross chain It includes a plurality of twisted links such as the link l8, said links being joined together, as best shown in Figure 1.

At each end ofthe cross chain l6, like tangs 20 and 22 are provided.

4 The inwardly disposed ends of said tangs are each provided with like apertures 24. The apertures are each in communication with a kerf 26 for facilitating an attachment of the end links of the cross chain It through the apertures 24, as shown in Figure 1.

The outwardly disposed ends of the tangs are each provided with like apertures 28 for receiving the shanks 30 of pins 32 therethrough.

During use, the shanks 30 each also extend through oppositely disposed link portions of twopiece links, as shown in Figure 2. The link portion 34 is provided at each of its ends with oppositely disposed apertures 36 and 38 and the link portion 40 is similarly provided with like apertures. The link 42 or theside chain I2 is disposed through the aperture 38 and through i the like aperture of the link portion 40' during use, as shown in Figure 1. Similarly, the link 44 of the side chain 12 is slidably disposed through the aperture 36 and through the like aperture of the link portion 40.

' The head 46 of the pin 32 is Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the main body portion of the link portion 40, the shank of said pin being disposed through the aperture 28 of the tang 2D and. also through the aperture 43 provided through the main body portion of the link portion 34 for locking the tang 20 to the side chain l2 during use. The tangs are preferably employed and when not used the shank 30 of the 7 pin is disposed through the eye of the end link chain [2, since the links 42 and 44 are ea'chelone gated and have arcuate end portions, best shown in Figure 3, for guiding and holding tlfe link 'pm tions 34 and 40 together, with the tangzil-flthere between during use, since tension is applied 1ongitudinally to the side chain I2 for causi-ng the longitudinal length of the links 42 and 44 to align so that: their" arcuate ends crowd the" members 34=and 40-toward each-other-andito thez position shown in Figure 2, whereby said linktpentions 'arepreventedfrom spreading;- apart unduly with respect to each -otheri side chain i-2-isslack, during use; and:th'exlink portions 34 and 49 spread-tapart slightly; with respect" to each other; the-tang; 29 1s: maintained in: an attached: position, since thesha-nk' -til of the pin --32 ls long-enoughfor the said purpose;

"At times 'when -itiis desired lid-manually detach the tang '20 *from-theside chain I2,- the: links: 4 2 and 44 of the latter'are tu-rn'edi90'degreesand from-the. normalwpositionthereofrasr shown' in Figure- 2, to their respective. positions; as shown 35 inv'Figure '3, so? that the link portion 34 mayrbe 'm-oved away from the link-portion -46 a distance reater than the length oi theishank: Sandi-the pin "32, whereby the tangeiiizmay be ,readilyg removedafromsaid shank. V 7 Similarly, the tangwz z is.readily removableewith respect to "the side chain; M for detachingsthe other end of the cross chainlfi-fromitheeassembl-y and-it will be'seen that a new cross chain At times-when" the saidisideseof theechainglinkssa-re disposed in sap-- chain to and between'two of said elongated links, said means comprising a tang secured .to said end of said cross chain and having an aperture, a link of two-piece construction disposed between said two elongated links, one of said pieces a being provided with a hole between its ends, the

other piece being provided with a ,pin secured thereto between its ends, said pin being disposed through said aperture and said hole, said pieces 7 beingjiixtaposecband said"tanggbeirrg disposed between-them; said-pieces each being provided with an aperture adjacent each of their ends, end portions of said elongated links being respectively normally-disposed through the apertures at each end ofsaid two-piece link, the length of the shank V 'of saidpin-being greater than the distance be- -tween.t-he 1onger sides of said elongated links andls's' than the length of said sides, whereby said elongated links may be manually turned with respect to said two-piece link for permitting said pieces :to be spread-apart a :distancesufficient to permitsaidi-tangto be removed from said shank.

2; :In: a -chain assembly, two elongatedlchainlinks each having-approximately semi-circular endrportion-s, said; assembly having archainfprovided/with an openingsat its end-, .a pair of juxta posed linke members, each ofrsaid. members havins": anapertureat .eachof their ;ends,-'rsaid chainlinks being respeotivelysslidably'disposed through itwo apertures-at opnv ite ends of; said-epair, rand a-spin secured toflo-neiof said members; the other member-being provided with a -hole between its ends. the 383161581111 -ofesa-idchain being disposed between said-- members; thesshankwf said pin being: disposedlthrough theropeningj of: said end of said chain and through'the hole onsaidrother member; the; length :o: said :sh'ank being-greater than -the-distance;between :tlrer-sidesgoi -jeitherkof said chain-linksrandrless tthanatheilength'of either iofzsaidsides. forgpermittin-gpaid end .otisaid chain to Joe: removediromi said shank at-times (when proxima ateaparalleiism withisaid shanks 3. Irina chaineassembly; twmelongated. chainmay be readilysubstituted. for the; cross v chain" :linksreachthavingrendtportionssofsapproximately l fiand without-an employment o fftoolsnon other means except: the fingers of the operators, 7

7' It has been -found in-actua1 practice-that the above described means is 'ampleifor securing, the

desired. resultant. However, if ,dsired a hole 511 may, be providedfthrough the-shankiail as shown in Figured; for: the reception of an cot teri pin therethrough so that the pieces and id ot-"the two-'p ieceilink areprevented.fromspreadihgapart adis'tancewhichiis greater.thanv the distahcelb'e 5 tweenthehead 4510f the pin I s-z and th'eholeilifl. From the foregoingdescription,.itQis thought to b'e .o'bviousithat a tire chain linkage construct .ed- -i1'1 ;accordance" with invention is particularly we'll adaptedior use by reasonofi the con- '60 fV'eI'lieIl'ce and facility with which. it 'mayfbea's- 'sei'r'ib le'd an'd" operated, and itwill alsobe' obvious that "my invention is; susceptible ofilsome change and modificationwithoufldpartirig lfoin the principles andspiritthereor andfl'fdfthis reason, I do not wish it to be"und'erstood"as"limitiir'g' myselfto'the precise-j, arrangement "and f or- {mation-off'theseveral' parts herein sliow'i'r-iii' car rying ou't 'my' invention int practice? except as V claimed! iiicl-e"havir'ig side' chains an'd cross 'clia insi said fside' clrainseaoh having a plurality of -elongated links, and ineans' rorl attaching an end f 01 a icross 7 semi-eircular-fcontonr implanzand approximate- 1y;parallelside;portionssandnapairrofijuxtaposed linkernembersveach: havingian aperture'at each semi-circnlarrcontbun intpiansan'dt. approximately:pa-rallelisicle:p ortions; z aepair 'offjuxtaposedilink members each. having an aperture-at each -en'd thereof; said chainr links beingzrespectivelyr slidabl-y"disposemthrou'ghxendi aperturessof: said pair so:thatatrtimes wliemtl'ieichain Jinks are'aligned and1 tensiomappiiedatheretm saidiend portions of said:- chaimlinksrurgezsaidslink:members toward each other and? a "tang: attached: to; said nnk rner'n'bersiv 5. In a chain assembly, twoeelongatedichain links eaehehavhrgsend portionsiofapproximately semi circula'zrrdontcnr inzplanzamdzapproximately paraller-sidezporitionsyfaapair ofijuxtaposedailink memberseeaohr having anz'aperturei atreachnend thereof; said: chainz-links being irespectivelyzslidably disposed through end apertures offsaidipair 'soethatratitimesrwhen ztheschain'elinks:arealigned ainditensiom appiiedithereto; said: endeportions;-. of

said chain-links urge said link members toward each other; and a tang removably attached to said link members;

6. In a chain assembly, two elongated chainlinks each having approximately semi-circular end portions, said assembly having a chain provided with an opening at its end, a pair of juxtaposed link members, each of said members having an aperture at each of their ends, said chain-links being respectively slidably disposed through two apertures at opposite ends of said pair, a pin carried by one of said members, the other member being provided with a hole between its ends, the said end of said chain being disposed between said members, the shank of said pin being disposed through the opening of said end of said chain and through the hole of said other member, and means for maintaining said pin disposed through said aperture and said hole during operation.

'7. In a traction device for a wheel of a vehicle having side chains and cross chains, said side chains each having a plurality of elongated links, and means for attaching an end of a cross chain to and between two of said elongated links, said means comprising a tang secured to said end of said cross chain and having an aperture in one 6 end thereof, the other end of said tang being bifurcated, the walls of said bifurcation being recessed for the reception of said one end of said cross chain, a link of two-piece construction disposed between said two elongated links, one of said ieces being provided with a hole between its ends, a pin carried by said other piece between its ends, said pin being disposed through said aperture and said hole, said pieces being juxtaposed and said tang being disposed between them, said ieces each being provided with an aperture adjacent each of their ends, end portions of said elongated links being respectively norm-ally disposed through the apertures at each end of said two-piece link, and means for maintaining said pin disposed through said aperture and said hole during operation.

HARRY MADISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are 01' record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date 598,014 Schry Jan. 25, 1898 1,942,338 Kennedy Jan. 2, 1934 

